Rahul Gandhi’s convoy slammed into a roadside obstruction on National Highway 89.5 near Haliyapur police station in Sultanpur district on Monday, according to police reports. The impact left several people wounded, though the exact number and severity of injuries remain unconfirmed. Gandhi himself was taken to a nearby hospital for precautionary checks and was reported safe, continuing his journey to the court.
The incident occurred as Gandhi was en route to a special MP‑MLA court in Sultanpur, where a verdict on a 2018 criminal defamation case is scheduled for later that day. The case stems from remarks made by Gandhi about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Karnataka Assembly election campaign, a complaint filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra on August 4, 2018. Gandhi had been summoned in November 2023, appeared before the sessions court, and secured bail; the matter has moved through several legal stages, with higher courts dismissing challenges to earlier decisions.
Local police dispatched emergency units to the crash site, and ambulances are transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. The convoy, which included several support vehicles, was halted for investigation while investigators canvassed the scene for evidence. No official statement from Congress or the convoy’s driver has yet been released.
Despite the crash, Gandhi is set to appear in court later that day. The verdict on the defamation case, which has kept the opposition’s leader in the spotlight, is expected to be pronounced before the end of the hearing. The outcome will determine whether the case proceeds to higher appellate courts or concludes with a final judgment.